School of Professional Advancement
Permanent URI for this collection
Browse
Recent Submissions
Item PGPR potentially improve growth of tomato plants in salt-stressed environment,(Turkish Journal of Agriculture - Food Science and Technology,, 2016) Shahid Javed ButtÖzet Plant growth promoting rhizobacteria are colonized bacterial species that has the capability to improve plant growth by certain direct and indirect means. Environmental factors including both biotic and abiotic stresses are among the major constraints to crop production. In the current study, the effectiveness of microbial inoculation (Bacillus megaterium) for enhancing growth of tomato plants under salt stress conditions has been investigated. Significant improvement in shoot length, root length, leaf surface area, number of leaves, total weight of the shoot and root was observed in tomato plants inoculated with zm7 strain post 15 and 30 days of its application. Zm3, Zm4 and Zm6 strains improved the morphological parameters as compared to the control. Chlorophyll content a, chlorophyll content b, anthocyanin and carotenoid content was increased in tomato plants subjected to Zm7, Zm6 and Zm4 strains. Stress responsive genes; metallothionein and glutothion gene were found highly expressed in Zm7 treated tomato plants as compared to control, untreated plants. Significant correlation of anthocyanin was reported for carotenoids, chlorophyll-b, shoot weight and total weight of seedling while carotenoids was significantly correlated with leaf surface area, root length, chlorophyll-b and anthocyanin. Overall, Zm7 strain proved best for improvement in salt sressed plant’s morphological parameters and biochemical parameters as compared to control, untreated plants.Item A security model for SaaS in cloud computing(Technical Journal, University of Engineering and Technology (UET) Taxila, Pakistan, 2015) R. Abbas; A. Farooq; S. AfghanCloud computing is a type of computing that relies on sharing computing resources rather than having local servers or personal devices to handle applications. It has many service modes like Softwareas- a-Service (SaaS), Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS), Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS). In SaaS model, service providers install and activate the applications in cloud and cloud customers access the software from cloud. So, the user doesn't have the need to purchase and install a particular software on his/her machine. While using SaaS model, there are multiple security issues and problems like Data security, Data breaches, Network security, Authentication and authorization, Data integrity, Availability, Web application security and Backup which are faced by users. Many researchers minimize these security problems by putting in hard work. A large work has been done to resolve these problems but there are a lot of issues that persist and need to overcome. In this research work, we have developed a security model that improves the security of data according to the desire of the End-user. The proposed model for different data security options can be helpful to increase the data security through which trade-off between functionalities can be optimized for private and public data.Item Hofstede's cultural model, lmx and Pakistani historic-socio-political discourse(2013) Naveed YazdaniThis paper grounds its analytical historical discourse of Pakistani culture, society and leadership (political, social and economic) in Hofstede’s model of national and organizational culture. It borrows from LMX theory of leadership which entails both transactional and transformational elements and applies it in the context of Pakistani leadership style. Since the founding ideology of Pakistan is the religion of Islam, the paper also undertakes a detailed account of Divine Commands based socio-economic Islamic precepts. It also presents some empirical evidence reflecting the present Pakistani cultural and societal values embedding both the culture and leadership style of the country. The paper challenges Hofstede’s labeling of Pakistani culture as collectivistic and calls for future research on the ‘Dark Side’ of LMX practices prevalent in Pakistani discourse. .Item Learning in plural cultural context: methodological framework for multiple pedagogic practices(Journal for Multicultural Education, 2014) Ahmad Raza; Hasan Sohaib MuradPurpose – This paper aims to reconstruct the metaphor of classroom learning in plural cultural context. It underscores the essential complexity of the human learning and argues for multiple pedagogical practices as a tool for instructional engagement. Design/methodology/approach – Technological innovations have given new meanings and interpretations to the social vocabulary of learning across the world. These innovations have created cultural contexts in which metaphor of classroom learning needs to be revisited and reassessed. It discusses the concept of classroom learning in a humanistic cultural context and explores a methodological framework for multiple pedagogic practices a tool for learning engagement based on critique of divergent themes in pedagogical literature. Findings – It is argued that classroom learning is a complex microcosm of human bodies, minds and cultures, necessitating major adaptations, both from teachers and learners. It is a continuous engagement, borne out of mutual willingness of teachers and learners to become indivisible part of whole living experience of learning. Classroom as a metaphor of learning would continue to inspire the serious learners, have responded to technological innovations, currently experienced by the human societies across the world, and has gone on to become a “cyber-classroom” in the era of globalization. Originality/value – The paper highlights underlying cultural complexities of human learning and hence underscores the need for a revised and pluralistic curriculum for the global management education and those who are engaged in it.Item Online quiz system spa online quiz system(University of Management and Technology, 2013) FAIZA ABIDOnline Quiz system website is developed to facilitate user especially teachers and students in education field to enhance their skills through taking tests and quizzes. The websites can help teachers and students to save their time. Thissimulator helps teacher to organize test for their students. And provide them security for their data.Item Emotional labor & big five personality model(3rd International Conference on Business Management (ICoBM), UMT, Lahore, Pakistan, 2013) Naveed YazdaniExhibit of emotions has become a topic of great interest for sociologists and psychologists during the last few years. The main reason of this attention is due to the changes in the structure of economy, as the economy has shifted from the manufacturing to the service industry and more jobs are being offered in the areas of CRM. As a result of which employees are under a considerable stress to hide their emotions and state of mind hence exhibiting a false sense of gregariousness with their customers or in other words to increase the level of their emotional labor. Not all people respond to this challenge similarly. Therefore the main purpose of this study is to expose that a personality plays a pivotal role in understanding and describing the phenomena of emotional labor. Examination of the role of personality in relative to emotional labor may assist us to foresee which individuals are best able to perform emotional labor on the job.Item Ikujiro nonaka:A km guru(3rd International Conference on Business Management (ICoBM), UMT, Lahore, Pakistan, 2013) Abdul Rasheed Kausar; Naveed YazdaniThis theoretical paper traces Ikujiro Nonaka’s managerial writings over a period of 25 years from 1984 to 2009. It highlights that Nonaka had no intention of discovering a separate field by the name of Knowledge Management. From the very outset he was only highlighting the philosophical differences between Japanese and Western ways of managing the work. It was during this discourse that he developed the SECI Model which formed the backbone of the KM field.Item A historicity in management research(3rd International Conference on Business Management (ICoBM), UMT, Lahore, Pakistan, 2013) Mudassir Farooqi; Naveed YazdaniThis theoretical paper focuses on the application of pure empiricism in management research. The paper traces the ahistoric consequences of empiricism in management research. It first traces the evolution of empiricism as an art of inquiry based on Cartesian dualism. It then focuses on empiricism as a dominant methodology of management research. The paper also traces the consequences of empiricism and resulting ahistoricity in the form of gap between management research and practice, moral and ethical problems in organizations. The underlying question which the paper raises is the ahistoricity in management research as a byproduct of pure empiricist stance. The paper concludes by proposing that for the management research to be effective and useful for the practitioner it has to bring context specific knowledge of organizations.Item Mirror up to km paradoxes and strategy paradoxes: an exploratory account(3rd International Conference on Business Management (ICoBM), UMT, Lahore, Pakistan, 2013) Rana Zamin AbbasObjectives 1. To explore, extend and refine the theory based framework of Schultze and Stabell discourses, and contradictions in KM research. 2. To discuss double edged nature of knowledge by highlighting different assumptions about knowledge and its management. 3. To discuss strategy paradoxes as additional contradictions in the domain of KM research 4. To elaborate further specifically dialogic discourse and constructivist discourse. Methodology Using the examples of Pakistani organization and International cases for exploring paradoxes in the land of KM and strategic management, the relevant literature has been explored from strategic management and knowledge management. For Pakistani organizations insights are taken from Brand Elections 2010 and for multinational organizations, the examples of short cases are taken from the book Strategy: Process, Content, Context – An international perspective. The 3D view of strategy (strategy process, strategy content, strategy context) along with the exploration of different paradoxes lying in 3D view of strategy (strategy process, strategy content, strategy context) with reference to KM has been presented. Suggestions have been made to extend and further refine the theory based model of Schultze and Stabell as the direction for future research.Item Sustainable competitive advantage(3rd International Conference UMT, Lahore, 2013) Naveed Yazdani; Mavra NaeemThis paper attempts to develop a theoretical background that undertakes the concept of organizational culture and human resource in attaining, sustaining and renewing the sustainable competitive advantage of firms. Firms that own valuable, rare, inimitable and non-substitutable resources in the form of tangible and intangible assets are the only ones to continue to survive in today's dynamic market conditions. It has been found that organizational culture and human resources which are rooted in social interactions occurring over a period of time influences people's behavior. This influence is created through the use of language, technology, rules and regulations and, knowledge and ideas. Culture created in organizations thus becomes a source of creating causal ambiguity and isolating mechanisms which are difficult to imitate, interpret and understand explicitly.Item The effect of affect-based and cognition-based trust on the sharing and use of tacit knowledge(3rd International Conference UMT, Lahore, 2013) Naveed Yazdani; Adnan SiddiqueIn this era of knowledge economy when knowledge is considered the most important resource for gaining sustainable competitive advantage, it is necessary for organizations to leverage this resource. Organizations should build interpersonal trust among their employees so that the tacit knowledge which resides in their employees is utilized. The interpersonal trust is of two type’s i.e. affect-based and cognition-based trust. This study finds the effect of alternative types of trust on the willingness of employees to share and use tacit knowledge using a sample of 102 respondents from different business organizations. The findings support the hypothesis that both type of trust i.e. affect-based and cognition-based trust is important in determining the willingness of employees to share and use their tacit knowledge. Research limitations are discussed in the end.Item Exploring the multidimensionality of globalization: perspectives and insights(Doctoral Conference Hosted By UMT, 2013) Rana Zamin AbbasThe purpose of this paper is to explore and discuss the multiple complexities of the phenomena of globalization under the microscope of different perspectives, and not just the relative simplicities of the different disciplines that deal with it. This approach leads us to ask: can we engage the phenomena of globalization – globally.Item Mirror up to benevolent paternalistic leadership (BPL)(2013) Rana Zamin Abbas; Hasan Sohaib Murad; Ahmed F. Siddiqui; Muhammad Razzaq AtharThe paper aims to address the fundamental questions: What is BPL? Why is the Quest for BPL? And how BPL can bring about positive change? ñ For this purpose, the paper reviews different definitions and perspectives of Benevolent Paternalistic Leadership (BPL) along with antecedents and outcomes to assess the current state of BPL literature. After reviewing current state of BPL literature, paper explores the quest for Benevolent Paternalistic Leadership along with the challenges faced by BPL at organizational as well as civilizational levels. To address how BPL can bring about positive change, it explores the ideas of political leaders, the role of courage and insights from the Holy Qurían and Sunnah. The paper finally emphasizes the need to incorporate these rich ideas into BPL literature. Using sources of BPL literature, sources of organizational literature, sources of civilizational literature specifically the ideas of political leaders, along with the sources of Quríanic literature and authentic Ahadith, this paper firstly explores the relevant literature of BPL and explores the challenges of BPL at different levels both at organizational and civilizational. Secondly, it highlights the ideas given by political leaders, their courage and Islamic guidance for setting the future directions for the management practice. World of management is facing multi-faceted crisis with reference to leadership. Signs of this crisis are clear indicators of something missing which needs to be filled to overcome this multi-faceted crisis. This study comes at a time of stock-taking at organizational and civilizational levels with reference to BPL. It addresses a timely need of the importance of BPL and by melting rich insights from different authentic sources into one place, paves way for peace, harmony and success in the world of management at both levels: organizational as well as civilization.Item Mirror up to intraorganizational power and dependence: an exploratory account(3rd International Conference, 2013) Ali Asghar; Rana Zamin Abbas; Ambreen ZainebThe most interesting feature of research on power in organizations is that we are blessed and plagued by variety of approaches and theories. Being blessed means that we have multitude of ideas and approaches while plagued means that many theories are fragmented and a little integration efforts have been made yet. Consequently, the clear picture of intraorganizational power relations is quite difficult to obtain. An interdisciplinary approach is needed to define links among the many aspects of power. In this theoretical synthesis, a serious attempt is made to summarize what we know and don’t know about power in organizations.Item Effect of corporate alienation on managerial decision making(2013) Rana Zamin Abbas; Muhammad Rizwan Junaid; Muhammad Razzaq Athar; Zulfqar AhmadThis study revolves around the core process of decision making in an organization keeping on board the middle management tier which is involved mostly in decision making. In every passing day more and more mangers are coming across different personal problems; and even with strong academic qualifications and flair towards offering their best they are finding no place for themselves in this busy and dynamic corporate world. Organizational structure and design are the main causes that make their options miserable and leave no place to run and room to hide. They lose happiness, completeness and confidence and they hit back the society as an alien soul without any defined objective and definite purpose. The causes are studied here in the perspective of a continuous process of decision making which is the most important of all tasks a manager performs.Item Strategic orientations and organizational types: a theoretical link(Publishing India, 2013) Syed Shahid Hussain; Sarwar M. Azhar; Maham ShahidThe aim of this study is to explore the extant literature with respect to the effect of organisational types on SO-performance relationship. The type of an organisation is a mental model or metaphorical representation manifested through the structural characteristics such as systems, processes, nature of business and workforce. It is also manifested through values, norms, shared vision (known as culture) and strategic orientations. Authors of this study therefore firmly believe and propose a significant connection between type of organisation and SO-performance relationship. The paper discusses this conceptual link through the review of literature systematically based on last three years research publications i.e. 2010-2012. Firstly, authors highlight the existence of SO-performance relationships and then purport the links between frequently cited SOs and organisational types. The study concludes with several propositions based on a theoretical framework and provokes attention of future researchers towards this crucial issue.Item An empirical study of meat supply chain and prices pattern in Lahore (Pakistan): a case study(2013) Hamid Jalil; Syed Shahid Hussain; Ahmed F.SiddiqiMeat has become an integral part of human body because it is an affluent source of proteins, vitamins, minerals, micronutrients, and fats for human beings. This study is an attempt to investigate the spending of meat and pricingmodel in Lahore city.The essential factors of the contribution of small farmers of livestock in the meat sector have been highlighted in this paper. Based on the primary data of year 2008 from some stakeholders, dealers and officials of the meat industryof Lahore,the findings of this research reveal that the meat prices are growing up due to unnecessary transportation expenditures imposedon the suppliers (farmers) of remote areas. The global changes like 9/11 and other regional, national and international challengeshave significant impacts on the meat production, consumption and pricing patterns. Based on the information embarkedon this primary research, this study invokes the role of the Government and policy makers to perk up the productivity of meat. The authors are of the point of view that this seminal research will provide insight to the policy makers, planners, strategists,businessmen, and future researchers to replicate and spread it over other parts of the country.Item Tacit knowledge as a source of competitive advantage in cricket(2013) Naveed Yazdani; Abdul Rasheed KausarThis theoretical paper expounds the basic tenet of knowledge-based-view (KBV) of the firm that tacit knowledge lies at the basis of sustained competitive advantage accrued to a company. This is because tacit knowledge embodies the intangible, valuable, rare, inimitable and non-substitutable human core capabilities and competencies. Taking lead from Berman et al. (2002) study of National Basketball Association (NBA), this paper proposes to use the notion of Collective Mind or stock of tacit knowledge of a Cricket team and suggests a positive relationship between shared team experience (a proxy for tacit knowledge) and team performance. The paper also suggests that over a period of time the relationship may turn negative because of the knowledge ossification or reutilization of tacit knowledge schemas acquired by the players. Future research implications for other formats of Cricket apart from ODI matches and other sports are also discussedItem Organizational learning(3rd International Conference on Business Management (ICoBM), UMT, Lahore, Pakistan, 2013) Syed Shahid Hussain; Naveed YazdaniThis theoretical study is an attempt to provide an overview of literature on organizational learning by covering the concepts of prominent scholars from Cangelosi and Dill (1965) to Fang et al., (2010). In the last two decades, the multi-facets of the concept have emerged in academic as well as in corporate world. The field of organizational learning can be considered in several perspectives and dimensions. The aim of the study is to evaluate the salient aspects of the field while exploring the different perspectives and approaches of organizational learning namely individual/cognitive, objective, technical, social, cultural, humanistic and political. This paper also expounds various processes like single-loop, double-loop and experiential through which organizations learn.Item The implementation of curricula at secondary level: role of head teacher(Common Ground, 2011) Farah Naz; Ijaz Ahmad Tatlah; Abida KhalidA curriculum plan is as good as its implementation since it is the actual achievement and not merely the objectives set and organizational mechanism provided that determine the impact of a plan. Without effective implementation the decision of the curriculum planner are not to be carried out successfully. Since the people who plan the curriculum are not the same who carried out it, there is a considerable room of distortion of the curriculum planner’s intentions if the steps and actions appropriate to the plan are not taken. Construction and implementation of curriculum involves an intricate set of actions on the part of many people. The purpose of this study is to identify the factors which influence the implementation of curricula at secondary school stage as perceived by teachers, and principals. The study was based on the assumption that the curricula introduced were not fully implemented. Data was collected and tabulated for the purpose. Statistical techniques were applied to analyze the data. Analysis of major hypotheses and items shows that supervisory function had not performed in a manner that could ensure the effective implementation of curricula at school level. There are many factors that impede or facilitate the process of implementation of the curriculum as perceived.